UPS Scraps Order For A380 Jumbo Freighters

March 2, 2007
UPS cites delays as reason.

UPS announced March 2 it would cancel an order for 10 Airbus A380 superjumbo freighters, citing delays by the troubled European manufacturer. UPS said a final cancellation decision will be formally presented to Airbus on the first date specified under an agreement reached last week that gives either party the right to terminate the order.

UPS was the sole remaining customer for the cargo version of Airbus's enormous new plane, whose troubled development has created high-level turmoil in Europe.

Last week's agreement specified a revised delivery schedule that delayed UPS's first A380 jumbo freighter from 2010 to 2012. UPS originally expected its first freighter in 2009. UPS said it had intended to complete an internal study of whether it could wait until 2012 for the aircraft, "but now understands Airbus is diverting employees from the A380 freighter program to work on the passenger version of the plane," a company statement said.

"Based on our previous discussions, we had felt that 2012 was a reasonable estimate of when Airbus could supply this plane," said David Abney, UPS's chief operating officer and president of UPS Airline. "We no longer are confident that Airbus can adhere to that schedule. UPS has built one of the largest airlines in the world in order to ensure reliable service to our customers, and we're confident we have the resources to continue doing so in the future."

On February 5, UPS unveiled a multibillion-dollar order for 27 Boeing freighter planes, and said the A380 order was subject to an "ongoing review."

FedEx scrapped its order for 10 A380F cargo planes in November after Airbus announced a two-year delay in deliveries.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Discover How an Eye Tracking Study Improves Training Procedures

Oct. 29, 2023
Did you know that your training processes can be streamlined by visualizing and analyzing key skills within your employee base? Find out how we use eye tracking to capture advanced...

Beware Extreme Software

Sept. 24, 2023
As a manufacturer, you understand the importance of staying ahead of the curve and being proactive in your approach to technology. With the rapid pace of change in the industry...

Modern Edge Computing Accelerates Smart Manufacturing Initiatives for Discrete Manufacturers

Oct. 22, 2023
Discover how Edge Computing platforms are a requisite for discrete manufacturers to solve production challenges, accelerate digitalization, and establish a reliable infrastructure...

Lean Manufacturing in the Age of the Industrial Internet

Oct. 24, 2023
Read how advanced MES capabilities can help you improve your labor utilization, reduce WIP, and optimize your production. Download the white paper today.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!